NOTE: I know the word is properly spelled p-h-a-r-m-a-c-e-u-t-i-c-a-l, but I spelled it with an f to foil the spam filter.

The anti-vaxxers tend to win new converts with emotional messages like: "Do you love your children? Then protect them from those harmful vaccines." Pro-vaccine messages tend to be more factual and less emotional. In the end, though, the pro-vaccine camp has one silver bullet that the anti-vaxxers don't: They will all get the vaccine when it is available and won't die from COVID-19. The anti-vaxxers won't get the vaccine, and some of them will get the disease and die from it. That is not great PR for their position. It also reduces their ranks. Paging Charles Darwin.

Anti-vax protesters don't break cleanly along partisan lines. They come from both the left and the right, which makes them extra hard to battle. Left-wing protesters don't want toxic chemicals made by evil money-grubbing farmaceutical corporations injected into their bodies because they are not pure. Right-wing protesters have no problem with the evil money-grubbing farmaceutical corporations, but they refuse to submit to the government's authority to tell them what to do. So far, Donald Trump has said that he hopes there will be a vaccine soon. If he sticks to this position, it could convince some right-wing pro-Trumpers to get it just because their dear leader tells them to do it. Also, it tastes better than fish-tank cleaner. However, if Trump says "get one," that will be yet another reason why anti-vaxxers on the left will refuse.

Masts owned by Vodafone, Spark and 2degrees have been subject to at least 15 suspicious fires across New Zealand since March, with the majority in Auckland.

A video showing one incident in south Auckland's Manurewa, which was posted to Facebook but has since been removed, appeared to show a man pouring fuel over the exposed cables of an under-construction tower.

Another man in the video could be heard saying "F... 5G" and "F... the New World Order" as they drive away from the scene.

More suspicious attacks followed and in the past week, four cell phone towers have been set alight.

On Tuesday, a cell phone tower on Comet Crescent in Mangere was set burned, while others were torched in Ōtāhuhu and Favona.

The latest, on Saturday, saw police officers called to Weymouth where a cell phone tower was on fire. Minutes later, they were alerted to a blaze at a power box, at the site of the tower, in nearby Clendon.

"Enquiries are underway into the circumstances around both incidents," a police spokeswoman said on Sunday.

SciFilmsDr Siouxsie Wiles urged people not to pass on false information about 5G.

WHAT DO THE EXPERTS SAY?

When microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles' was previously asked for her thoughts on the issue, her response was simple: "Just one endless scream from me on that front."

She said it was common human behaviour to search for patterns and find them where they don't exist in stressful times, such as a pandemic.

"This is a frightening time for everyone and people will be looking for a reason this has happened. 5G is just one of many useful things to hang the blame on.

"There is no truth in it so please don't read it and don't pass it on to anyone else."

During a Covid-19 press conference, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was asked about the circulating conspiracy.

She initially said the question didn't warrant an answer, but eventually sent a clear and direct message to all New Zealanders on the matter.

"That is not true ... I can't state it clearly enough ... it is just not true," she said.

Vodafone, Spark and 2degrees have all condemned the attacks and urged people to report any suspicious activity near cell phone towers.

Vodafone NZ said the vandalism was causing considerable damage, which could affect community safety because customers may not be able to call 111, contact family members or connect to the internet.

In a recent blog post, Vodafone NZ wholesale and infrastructure director Tony Baird said there had been a lot of reports about arson at cell sites "due to blatantly false conspiracy theories about 5G".

"While we won't give specifics as we don't want to encourage copycat activity, Vodafone NZ has also been subject to threats and activity, which is infuriating," Baird wrote.

Some Spark customers have experienced loss of service, text and data used following some fires, such as the one in south Auckland's Mangere.

Spark technology director Mark Beder said the attacks were inexcusable at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic.

The company said it was working with police about threats made to its cell tower sites, as well as some instances of arson.

2degrees chief of technology Martin Sharrock said the senseless activity was only causing more damage to homes and businesses.

WHAT ARE POLICE DOING?

Police are working with firefighters to investigate the incidents.

Because of the geographical spread of the attacks, a police spokeswoman said there was no one officer in charge at this point.

"As with any unexplained and potentially suspicious fire, police will work alongside our FENZ colleagues to investigate the cause and, if relevant, hold any person/s responsible to account," the spokeswoman said.

Masts owned by Vodafone, Spark and 2degrees have been subject to at least 15 suspicious fires across New Zealand since March, with the majority in Auckland.

A video showing one incident in south Auckland's Manurewa, which was posted to Facebook but has since been removed, appeared to show a man pouring fuel over the exposed cables of an under-construction tower.

Another man in the video could be heard saying "F... 5G" and "F... the New World Order" as they drive away from the scene.

More suspicious attacks followed and in the past week, four cell phone towers have been set alight.

On Tuesday, a cell phone tower on Comet Crescent in Mangere was set burned, while others were torched in Ōtāhuhu and Favona.

The latest, on Saturday, saw police officers called to Weymouth where a cell phone tower was on fire. Minutes later, they were alerted to a blaze at a power box, at the site of the tower, in nearby Clendon.

"Enquiries are underway into the circumstances around both incidents," a police spokeswoman said on Sunday.

SciFilmsDr Siouxsie Wiles urged people not to pass on false information about 5G.

WHAT DO THE EXPERTS SAY?

When microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles' was previously asked for her thoughts on the issue, her response was simple: "Just one endless scream from me on that front."

She said it was common human behaviour to search for patterns and find them where they don't exist in stressful times, such as a pandemic.

"This is a frightening time for everyone and people will be looking for a reason this has happened. 5G is just one of many useful things to hang the blame on.

"There is no truth in it so please don't read it and don't pass it on to anyone else."

During a Covid-19 press conference, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was asked about the circulating conspiracy.

She initially said the question didn't warrant an answer, but eventually sent a clear and direct message to all New Zealanders on the matter.

"That is not true ... I can't state it clearly enough ... it is just not true," she said.

Vodafone, Spark and 2degrees have all condemned the attacks and urged people to report any suspicious activity near cell phone towers.

Vodafone NZ said the vandalism was causing considerable damage, which could affect community safety because customers may not be able to call 111, contact family members or connect to the internet.

In a recent blog post, Vodafone NZ wholesale and infrastructure director Tony Baird said there had been a lot of reports about arson at cell sites "due to blatantly false conspiracy theories about 5G".

"While we won't give specifics as we don't want to encourage copycat activity, Vodafone NZ has also been subject to threats and activity, which is infuriating," Baird wrote.

Some Spark customers have experienced loss of service, text and data used following some fires, such as the one in south Auckland's Mangere.

Spark technology director Mark Beder said the attacks were inexcusable at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic.

The company said it was working with police about threats made to its cell tower sites, as well as some instances of arson.

2degrees chief of technology Martin Sharrock said the senseless activity was only causing more damage to homes and businesses.

WHAT ARE POLICE DOING?

Police are working with firefighters to investigate the incidents.

Because of the geographical spread of the attacks, a police spokeswoman said there was no one officer in charge at this point.

"As with any unexplained and potentially suspicious fire, police will work alongside our FENZ colleagues to investigate the cause and, if relevant, hold any person/s responsible to account," the spokeswoman said.

Masts owned by Vodafone, Spark and 2degrees have been subject to at least 15 suspicious fires across New Zealand since March, with the majority in Auckland.

A video showing one incident in south Auckland's Manurewa, which was posted to Facebook but has since been removed, appeared to show a man pouring fuel over the exposed cables of an under-construction tower.

Another man in the video could be heard saying "F... 5G" and "F... the New World Order" as they drive away from the scene.

More suspicious attacks followed and in the past week, four cell phone towers have been set alight.

On Tuesday, a cell phone tower on Comet Crescent in Mangere was set burned, while others were torched in Ōtāhuhu and Favona.

The latest, on Saturday, saw police officers called to Weymouth where a cell phone tower was on fire. Minutes later, they were alerted to a blaze at a power box, at the site of the tower, in nearby Clendon.

"Enquiries are underway into the circumstances around both incidents," a police spokeswoman said on Sunday.

SciFilmsDr Siouxsie Wiles urged people not to pass on false information about 5G.

WHAT DO THE EXPERTS SAY?

When microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles' was previously asked for her thoughts on the issue, her response was simple: "Just one endless scream from me on that front."

She said it was common human behaviour to search for patterns and find them where they don't exist in stressful times, such as a pandemic.

"This is a frightening time for everyone and people will be looking for a reason this has happened. 5G is just one of many useful things to hang the blame on.

"There is no truth in it so please don't read it and don't pass it on to anyone else."

During a Covid-19 press conference, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was asked about the circulating conspiracy.

She initially said the question didn't warrant an answer, but eventually sent a clear and direct message to all New Zealanders on the matter.

"That is not true ... I can't state it clearly enough ... it is just not true," she said.

Vodafone, Spark and 2degrees have all condemned the attacks and urged people to report any suspicious activity near cell phone towers.

Vodafone NZ said the vandalism was causing considerable damage, which could affect community safety because customers may not be able to call 111, contact family members or connect to the internet.

In a recent blog post, Vodafone NZ wholesale and infrastructure director Tony Baird said there had been a lot of reports about arson at cell sites "due to blatantly false conspiracy theories about 5G".

"While we won't give specifics as we don't want to encourage copycat activity, Vodafone NZ has also been subject to threats and activity, which is infuriating," Baird wrote.

Some Spark customers have experienced loss of service, text and data used following some fires, such as the one in south Auckland's Mangere.

Spark technology director Mark Beder said the attacks were inexcusable at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic.

The company said it was working with police about threats made to its cell tower sites, as well as some instances of arson.

2degrees chief of technology Martin Sharrock said the senseless activity was only causing more damage to homes and businesses.

WHAT ARE POLICE DOING?

Police are working with firefighters to investigate the incidents.

Because of the geographical spread of the attacks, a police spokeswoman said there was no one officer in charge at this point.

"As with any unexplained and potentially suspicious fire, police will work alongside our FENZ colleagues to investigate the cause and, if relevant, hold any person/s responsible to account," the spokeswoman said.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - The coronavirus pandemic didn't stop people from packing the central Missouri vacation hot spot of the Lake of the Ozarks for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, despite state social distancing orders.

Crowds flooded some bars and restaurants at the Lake of the Ozarks, which attracts Missouri residents, as well as people in surrounding states, including Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas and Iowa.

One video posted on social media shows a crammed pool where people lounged close together without masks.

Missouri’s statewide stay-at-home order expired earlier this month, but an order from the state health director requires 6-foot social distancing until at least the end of May.

It's unclear what steps Lake of the Ozarks-area health officials are taking to enforce that order. Associated Press requests for comment left with local health departments, county officials and sheriff's offices were not immediately returned Sunday.

Since the pandemic first hit Missouri, the state health department has reported 38 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Camden County and four in Miller County, which cover some of the Lake of the Ozarks area.

In total, the health department reported that the virus has sickened at least 11,988 people, up 236 cases compared to what was reported Saturday. The confirmed death toll is 681, up from 676 reported deaths Saturday.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

_________________“Listen to everyone, read everything; believe absolutely nothing unless you can prove it in your own right!”

I heard some old dumb fuck ex-rodeo person on the Cowboy Channel say that only mid-western and rodeo people teach their kids the proper values and that if you didn't grow up in that lifestyle you were not a proper American. Part of his spiel was that "we teach our kids to shoot guns!". Which I don't know what that has to do with anything. I guess everybody has to feel they're superior to other people to get along with their lives.

'I was on an adventure', teen who crossed Cook Strait in dinghy speaks outSam Sherwood·17:52, May 29th, 2020

A teen who set out in his dinghy from the South Island to Wellington is unrepentant and says he’d do it again.

Tachyon Hutt, aged 18, left Kenepuru Sound near the top of the South Island about 10:00pm on Wednesday, heading to Wellington to see his brother, he told Stuff on Friday.

“I’ve got family up here and I thought I’d just go and do something. We’ve had the lockdown and we’ve been all self-isolated and that and I needed something to take my mind off things.”

Hutt, who says he’s “really experienced” with boats, had previously crossed the Cook Strait six times by himself in bigger boats, but never in a dinghy.

“I know how to handle the Cook Strait and I know how to handle the dinghy, so I sort of put one and one together and I sort of just thought I’m going to Wellington, can’t really stop me, I’m not turning back now.”

The teen departed Kenepuru Sound, where he lives, with no waterproof clothing, water or food, just a life jacket, expecting the trip to take up to six hours. He had a compass with him but did not bother using it.

suppliedTachyon Hutt, aged 18, left Kenepuru Sound near the top of the South Island about 10:00pm on Wednesday, heading to Wellington to see his brother.

The journey got off to a good start until the conditions changed and started to get a bit rough. He then decided to head towards Mana Island, near Porirua planning to spend the night and head towards Wellington at first light only for the motor to cut out.

“I just stopped for a little break and then I started paddling and I thought it might be easier and quicker to get a tow, I thought why waste the energy when I can get a ride?

“I tried to call the Porirua Coastguard and no-one was answering and the reception wasn’t very good so it was a bit of a muckaround plus my hands and phone were wet so it was hard to use.”

About 9am Thursday morning he got hold of the harbourmaster, who then contacted police. A shortwhile later Hutt received a text from police, and after responding to it, emergency services were able to get his location.

NZ POLICEThe rescue of the man off Mana Island.

“I didn’t panic at any time, I was quite comfortable,” Hutt recalls.

“It was a southerly out there so it was quite cold, I was soaked. But I didn’t really get too cold until early hours of the morning and I was just sitting there not paddling or anything so I wasn’t keeping my body temperature up.”

NZ POLICEPolice said the man travelled across Cook Strait overnight Wednesday in this dinghy.

After police got his exact position, they dispatched Coastguard to attend, and the police launch also went around. Maritime radio also put a call-out on other boats in the area to look out for the teen.

A paramedic on board the Westpac rescue helicopter, which was also sent to the scene, was winched down to assess him. Senior Sergeant Dave Houston, officer in charge of the Wellington Police Maritime Unit earlier said he was in a "pretty good" state, which surprised emergency services.

Hutt was then taken in from the water to Mana Marina, with Coastguard also towing his boat to shore.

Hutt said he had thought a lot about his decision to try cross Cook Strait in his dinghy and had no regrets.

“I’d do it again, but I’m not going to at this stage,” he said.

“I was on an adventure, why should you stop nature? Why should you cut out someone’s freedom?”

He added he was grateful for all the help he received from emergency services who came to his rescue.

Houston said earlier the teen didn't check the forecast before leaving the South Island.

Fortunately for his sake, Houston said, conditions were "pretty good", other than a slight southerly blowing.

"It would've been a bit choppy for a dinghy."

Police had contacted his relatives, who were "very concerned about what he'd done", Houston said, and "very relieved to find out that he was safe and well".

"He was incredibly lucky. To do something like that at nighttime - to cross one of the most treacherous waters, [there's] strong tides that go through there, rips, and the weather is unpredictable. It's a piece of water you've got to treat with respect.

Houston said the operation would have turned into a massive search if the teen didn't have his phone on him. "The battery on his cell phone was becoming flat. If we didn’t have the mobile location we would have had a massive search. The mobile ... literally saved his life."

That's one serious bit o' water he was attempting to traverse in his tiny tin boat.....He began very near the W of West Head on the map below and was rescued near Mana Island located just above the P of Porirua. If you get caught on the wrongtide anywhere around there, it's hello southern ocean.....

_________________hey punk where you going with that golf club in your hand, again.....

New York (CNN Business) A Twitter account that tweeted a call to violence and claimed to be representing the position of "Antifa" was in fact created by a known white supremacist group, Twitter said Monday. The company removed the account.Before it emerged the account was run by white supremacists, Donald Trump Jr., President Donald Trump's son, pointed his 2.8 million Instagram followers to the account as an example how dangerous Antifa is.

"This account violated our platform manipulation and spam policy, specifically the creation of fake accounts," a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement. "We took action after the account sent a Tweet inciting violence and broke the Twitter Rules."Although the account only had a few hundred followers, it is an example of white supremacists seeking to inflame tensions in the United States by posing as left-wing activists online.

The revelation of the account comes as President Donald Trump increasingly blames left-wing activists for violence occurring at protests across America.On Sunday, Trump tweeted he would designate Antifa a terrorist organization, despite the US government having no existing legal authority to do so. Antifa, short for anti-fascists, describes a broad, loosely-organized group of people whose political beliefs lean toward the left — often the far-left — but do not conform with the Democratic Party platform.

Antifa positions can be hard to define, but many people espousing those beliefs support oppressed populations and protest the amassing of wealth by corporations and elites. Some employ radical or militant tactics to get out their messages.

The fake account, @ANTIFA_US, tweeted Sunday, "ALERT Tonight's the night, Comrades Tonight we say "F**k The City" and we move into the residential areas... the white hoods.... and we take what's ours #BlacklivesMaters #F**kAmerica."

"Absolutely insane," Trump Jr. wrote on Instagram, sharing a screenshot of the tweet, "Just remember what ANTIFA really is. A Terrorist Organization! They're not even pretending anymore."

CNN has reached out to a spokesperson for Trump Jr. for comment. There is no indication whatsoever that Trump Jr. knew who was behind the account or that it was fake.

Twitter said that the account was in fact linked to Identity Evropa, a white power fraternity.

Though Twitter referred to the group as Identity Evropa when discussing the account's removal, the Anti Defamation League (ADL) states that the group dissolved and reformed under the name the American Identitarian Movement, which it also calls a white supremacist group.

The group promotes itself as "identitarian," that white people should preserve their racial and cultural identity. The American Identitarian Movement says it prohibits violence and illegal activity.

CNN has reached out to the group for comment.

Twitter said it had shut down other fake accounts linked to Identity Evropa, too.

The phenomenon of people on the right creating fake Antifa accounts predates the current wave of protests. The takedown Monday is not the first time a fake

Antifa account linked to white supremacists has been suspended by Twitter, the spokesperson confirmed.

_________________“Listen to everyone, read everything; believe absolutely nothing unless you can prove it in your own right!”

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